wfn.org | WCC Assembly's Opening Shows Diversity of the Worldwide Church

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7-December-1998 
 
 
    WCC Assembly's Opening Shows Diversity of the Worldwide Church 
 
    by Jerry Van Marter 
    Ecumenical News International 
 
Harare, Zimbabwe - Logistical difficulties and last-minute tensions were 
left behind this afternoon as almost 5000 participants gathered under an 
enormous tent on the University of Zimbabwe campus for the opening worship 
service of the eighth assembly of the World Council of Churches. 
 
    Pulsating African rhythms greeted the throng and the global nature of 
event was quickly established as scripture, prayer and song were lifted in 
myriad languages, including a climactic  simultaneous reciting of the 
Lord's Prayer in scores of different tongues. 
 
    A threatened boycott of assembly worship by Orthodox delegates - who 
are engaged in intense dialogue with WCC officials over Orthodox 
participation in the organisation - seemed to have been put aside by most 
Orthodox churches as several leading Orthodox clergy conducted 
portions of the service and the congregation was liberally sprinkled with 
Orthodox worshippers -  clearly recognisable by their distinctive dress. 
 
    The importance of holding this assembly in Africa was repeatedly 
stressed during the service.  In his greeting,  Enos Chomutiri, president 
of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, expressed his "joy and gratitude" at 
being chosen to host "this special event". 
 
    In response, WCC general secretary Konrad Raiser praised the decision 
to keep the assembly in Harare, despite growing unrest in Zimbabwe and 
repeated setbacks in negotiations for the assembly with local officials. 
"There have been many roadblocks, but we have stayed together 
until this beginning," said Dr Raiser, who has been one of the most 
vigorous supporters of the choice of Harare as the site for the assembly. 
"Now we turn it over to God, hoping for both the success of this assembly 
and that we may bring a message of hope to the people of Zimbabwe, who face 
an uncertain future." 
 
    Solidarity with the people of Africa - and with oppressed people 
throughout the world - was echoed by the opening preacher, Eunice Santana 
who is a president of the WCC president and a  member of the Christian 
Church (Disciples of Christ) from Puerto Rico.  "We rejoice in being in 
mother Africa," she said, "which has been stepped on by the mighty, but 
loved by God." 
 
    Recalling the biblical story of Jesus' healing of the crippled woman 
(Luke 13:10-17), Santana said the acts of Jesus "create everywhere the 
ability to stand up straight and give praise to God".  Moreover, she 
continued, the story reminds us of "the women, men and children who have 
been bent over by slavery, by oppression, by colonialism." 
 
    Citing statistics on the growing impoverishment, particularly of women 
and children, all over the world, Santana insisted, "None of this is God's 
doing - it's human actions." 
 
    Sounding the jubilee theme of this assembly, which marks the 50th 
anniversary of the foundation of the WCC, Santana concluded: "Now all the 
international debts are being carefully counted, but where was the human 
accounting when colonialism crushed the people?" 

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